A resident from the Callejado circuit, located near the Cayajabos road in the Granada area of Artemisa, has been left without electricity for eight consecutive days. She has chronicled her ordeal through a series of videos on Facebook, showcasing the extreme fatigue of a community neglected by officials.
Identified as the creator of these posts, Yuni Eddy Eimy Albo describes a complete breakdown: no electricity, no water, and no institutional response whatsoever.
"Callejado is the hardest-hit circuit in all of Artemisa. Nobody cares. There are no children, no elderly, there's no one here. We are treated like dogs," she stated in one of her videos.
The immediate cause of this prolonged blackout is the theft of dielectric oil from the area's transformers, a trend that has spread across Cuba in 2026. According to Albo, authorities themselves removed the security guarding these units to save on wages for three employees, leaving the transformers vulnerable to vandalism and theft.
"They let it get destroyed like everything else in this country, and now there's nothing left. They took the windows, they smashed everything inside," she recounted.
Currently, officials are attempting to reclaim old oil to get the transformers back online, though there is no defined timeline for resolution.
Community Left in the Dark
The absence of electricity has led to water shortages as well. A generator was brought to the neighborhood well for three hours, but the water only reached those living closest to it; residents in the higher parts of the neighborhood were left without.
Even before the complete outage, the circuit was only receiving two hours of power per day. Albo also pointed out that the Toledo community was provided with an alternative electrical connection, but her neighborhood was not.
"Why did Toledo get connected, and we didn't? Why wasn't an alternative found for us?" she questioned.
Calling the electric company is futile: "The phone rings, but it’s pointless," she lamented, noting that neither the governor of Artemisa nor any other official has addressed the issue.
Widespread Impact and Frustration
In her posts, Albo vividly describes the daily impact, resonating with thousands of Cubans: "When your child says they're hungry and there's no bread. Because no one makes bread without power. You have to improvise with charcoal."
Her story is not unique. The theft of dielectric oil from transformers has become one of the leading causes of prolonged blackouts on the island this year. In February, a theft in the 1570 circuit of Artemisa left around 4,000 people without power. The perpetrator was sentenced to 12 years for sabotage. Despite these severe sentences, the issue persists: Las Tunas has reported 11 thefts so far this year, and Ciego de Ávila has accounted for over 1,000 liters stolen.
Artemisa is among the provinces most affected by the energy crisis. More than 225,000 people—65% of its population—do not receive water regularly due to blackouts and deteriorating pumping equipment. On Monday, residents of the El Henequén neighborhood in Mariel took to the streets after more than four days without electricity, in a wave of protests spreading across multiple municipalities in the province.
"When the people protest or say something they shouldn't, as they put it, it's easier to imprison everyone. That's the easy part. But providing a solution, finding alternatives to give us power," Albo concluded, summarizing the regime's logic in facing the collapse experienced by her community.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What is causing the prolonged blackouts in Artemisa?
The prolonged blackouts are primarily due to the theft of dielectric oil from transformers, which has become widespread across Cuba, leaving equipment vulnerable to vandalism.
How are residents coping with the lack of electricity and water?
Residents are struggling without basic resources. Some are trying to improvise with alternative methods like charcoal for cooking, as the lack of power also disrupts water supply.
What actions have been taken by the authorities in response to the thefts?
Authorities have been attempting to recover old oil for the transformers, but there is no clear resolution timeline. Some involved in theft have faced severe legal consequences, but the problem continues.